Nov. 25, 2000

Clemson, SC - Breana Boling's goal in the 60th minute of play gave the sixth-seeded UCLA women's soccer team a 2-1 upset victory over third-seeded Clemson in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships in South Carolina on Saturday. With the victory, UCLA advances to its first ever NCAA College Cup next weekend in San Jose. The Bruins will take on Portland in one semifinal and top-seeded Notre Dame will face North Carolina in the other.

UCLA (18-3-1) scored the game-winning goal at the 59:16 mark when Krista Boling crossed a high ball over the head of Clemson goalkeeper Katie Carson. Her sister Breana, gathered up the loose ball in front of the Clemson net, putting in a shot from about two yards out.

"We played Clemson in the first game of the season and I told our team that we'd be back," said UCLA head coach Jillian Ellis. We've come full circle. It was a battle today and I feel very fortunate that we are advancing to the Final Four. It could've gone either way."

UCLA, which dominated much of the first half, got on the board in the 16th minute of play following a Lindsay Greco header off a cross from Stephanie Rigamat. The Tigers, however, were able to answer before halftime, on a goal in the 36th minute by Delilah Arrington.

Following Boling's goal that put UCLA up 2-1 in the 60th minute, the Tigers had several excellent scoring opportunities, however were unable to convert. With just over 15 minutes to go in the game, Clemson's Heather Beem launched a shot from about 25 yards out that looked like it was going to go in, however Bruin goalkeeper CiCi Peterson was able to get a hand on it and punch it up off the crossbar. Then, with just over 10 minutes to play in the game, a Clemson direct free kick from the top of the box resulted in a loose ball in front of the UCLA net before Peterson was able to knock it out of bounds.

"I told the team after the game that I was very proud of how they played the last 15 minutes," said Clemson head coach Ray Leone. "They took it to them."

UCLA's win on Saturday avenges a 1-0 loss to the Tigers back on Aug. 25 in Clemson. That match was the Bruins' 2000 season opener.

Post-Match Comments

UCLA Head Coach Jillian Ellis
"I want to congratulate Clemson on a great game. It was a very intense, hard fought game. It was a battle today. We lost to Clemson in the season opener and after that game I told my team that we would be back. This game could've gone either way. We are happy to be going to the Final Four."

"I wanted this so badly for my team. I really haven't thought about it personally. I wanted it for my seniors. It's a great reward for them."

"We have been getting better and better early in games. To come out and score first gave us confidence that we could play with them. I was proud of the way we played the first 15 minutes. We played very well early. I told the team if they can keep playing that way in the second half, we can win."

"Having played here earlier in the season was a benefit to our team. It was important to play on this field earlier. It was a motivation for us having lost to them. We felt like the underdog and I like that role."

Clemson Head Coach Ray Leone
"You have to give credit to UCLA. This loss hurts. When you invest so much time and energy into a season it is difficult to take. I am proud of my team. We improved to a point where we had the quarterfinals match at home and that is important. We played hard enough, but we did not play well enough. UCLA had a lot to do with that."

"This team accomplished so much this year. It is heart breaking that we did not make it to the Final Four. The seniors are crying, but when they look back they will see they accomplished a lot."